Hindu migrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh who are now based in India can get direct admission into the MBBS and BE courses from this academic year, the External Affairs Ministry said.

The ministry has been running a self-financing scheme for foreign nationals from developing countries for admission in Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Bachelor of Engineering (BE), Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) and diplomas in these disciplines in institutions across India.

Now the ministry has decided to include “persecuted religious minority migrants from Bangladesh and Pakistan based in India” within the purview of this scheme for admission in MBBS, BDS and BE courses from current academic year, the Ministry said in a statement.

“These applicants are not required to appear in any central entrance examination such as AIPMT or any other entrance examination. The candidates will be selected on the basis of academic merit,” the official statement said.

For admission to MBBS and BDS courses, the candidates must have scored at least 60 per cent marks each in physics, chemistry and biology apart from 50 per cent in English in the qualifying examination (equivalent to plus-two exam in India).

For engineering courses, a minimum of 60 per cent marks are required in physics, chemistry and mathematics besides 50 per cent in English.

Interested candidates may apply by August 19 at the office of Under Secretary (Education), Ministry of External Affairs, Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi.